Detergent Pod ingestion in Young ChildrenNick Richards

As a Packaging Science major, this specific case study is interesting because the Tide Pod package is a completely water soluble shell around Tide's detergent and is known to leave little waste behind. Its interesting to me to one day be part of a packaging team and attempt to balance, looks, efficiency, and safety of a package all into one.

AS you can see the pods look a lot like candy, especially to children.

Tide believed that part of this problem was that the package was too appealing (not found from this case study), some children believed it to be candy because of its bright and friendly color scheme, but more than just the Pod design faults this package. Tide pods use a specific polymer called ethoxylated polyethylene polyamines, this is a water soluble polymer that burst when it comes in contact with water. So once the pod touched the mouth of a child it would burst releasing chemicals into the child's mouth.

A possible solution to this problem is to create containers that are child proof. This can cause frustration with consumers who do not have young children, but as a packaging scientist these changes decisions have to be made.

The Case Studies were about kids under four years old who had consumed the tide pods, each study talked about symptoms, age, and time spent in the hospital. It talks about commercial success and how with success come some kind of backlash.

Effective Forms of writing: 1

Effective Writing 2: Introduction

"Laundry detergent pods are brightly colored capsules, composed of a liquid detergent within a water-soluble membrane that dissolves in contact with water."

Visually everything about the pod are bright and friendly from the marketing and commercials to the bright color scheme

Effective Writing 3:

"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Association of Poison Control Centers, during a 1-month period (May 2012 through June 2012) there were 485 exposures involving laundry detergent pods. Age was recorded for 481 exposures and 94% were among children ≤5 years of age."

Pod Label because of child consumption cases

Ineffective Writing 1:

"Since entering the US market in 2010, laundry deter-gent pods have been a commercial success. The pods are perfumed, brightly colored, liquid filled, and are sold in a fishbowl-shaped container."

Ineffective Writing 2:

"Eye injuries in children have been reported with exposure to detergent pods, which are thought to be a result of irritation of the cornea by surfactants."

FishBowl containers

Engaged Citizen

Although there are benefits to having a stylish and easy-to-use package, Tide would need to make sure that their package is safe for the general public. As a packaging scientist I would have to make sure that I battled marketing teams and commission based jobs for the safety of the consumer.